Abstracts

Rationale: Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) are, by definition, a physical manifestation of a psychological disturbance and better understanding of the underlying factors is crucial for physicians, patients and their family. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the patients whom were diagnosed with PNES at the University of Manitoba between April 2004 and May 2008.We included those who had at least one clinical event that was atypical for an epileptic seizure and not associated with any ictal epileptiform discharges on prolonged EEG-Video monitoring. Results: Sixty-four patients (47 female) with a mean age of 38.3 and a mean age of onset of 29 years were reviewed. Out of the Sixty-four patients ,Twenty one (32.8%) patients have epilepsy. Associated conditions were: a history of head trauma in 21 (32.8%), educational difficulties in 27 (42.2%), a dysfunctional family in 16 (25%), mental retardation 3 (4.7%), and psychiatric disorders in 33 (51.6%) including depression in 18 (28.1%), personality disorders in 10 (15.6%), suicidal ideation in 12 (18.8%), and suicidal attempt in 6 (9.4%), sexual abused in 11 (17.2%), physical abuse in 6 (9.4%), PTSD in 4 (6.3%), bipolar mood disorder in 4 (6.3%), and somatoform disorder in 2 (3.2%). Conclusions: Our results confirm that PNES is strongly associated with psychosocial disorders and a multidisciplinary management is warranted.